Soldiers blockade areas of Sierra Leone over Ebola

Soldiers and police have blockaded rural areas in Sierra Leone hit by the deadly Ebola virus, a senior officer said. Neighbouring Liberia declared a state of emergency to tackle the worst-ever outbreak of the disease, which has killed 932 people.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf announced emergency measures late on Wednesday that will, for 90 days, allow her government to curtail civil rights by imposing quarantines on badly affected communities to contain an epidemic that has struck four West African nations.